On September 16, SAI introduced Social Fingerprint™ - a program of ratings, on and offline training and toolkits designed to help companies understand and measure their social impact now, and then learn how to improve it.

The program includes the Social Fingerprint™ Company Rating System, the Social Fingerprint™ Supply Chain Management Rating System, plus all of the components needed to help companies build capacity immediately. Companies can pick and choose from the Social Fingerprint™ program components to enhance their existing corporate code of conduct program, or they can use the program to evaluate their own social performance or that of their suppliers.

"Introducing Social Fingerprint™ is a great step forward for SAI, as it leverages our experience from the SA8000 labor standard," said Alice Tepper Marlin, SAI President. "Social Fingerprint™ takes the management systems concept and breaks it into component processes so that companies can take much more targeted steps towards improvement."

Based on years of experience, SAI has created the Social Fingerprint™ program to help companies implement management systems in a credible, pragmatic and cost-effective way. The ratings help companies go beyond looking at code violations, to evaluating the processes that are essential to a high-level of social performance.  This program's process-based approach is a practical way to drive improvement regardless of which corporate or industry code is being used. In order to make the program cost-effective, SAI has created an online hub - the Social Fingerprint™ Training Center - as a way to supplement classroom training. >>Read more

For more information, contact Kate Critchell- KCritchell@sa-intl.org

The ITGLWF and SAI are pleased announce the launch of a six-month joint pilot project that aims to improve working conditions through social compliance to labor standards in the Bangladesh garment industry. The ITGLWF and SAI will collaborate with local industry and worker organizations to build both internal capacity in factories and external capacity in local stakeholder networks to monitor and improve fire safety systems. Parallel to this project, a series of multi-stakeholder meetings will be convened on strategies to address fire safety hazards in the Bangladeshi apparel industry.  

The vision for this project builds on the idea that sustainable factory improvements need to be based on a coherent and constructive framework of management systems and effective worker-manager communications. In order for this framework to be operational, workers and managers at Bangladeshi factories, as well as stakeholders, need practical training and tools for management systems and structured opportunities to collaborate on improvement strategies. >>Read more

For more information, contact SAI Program Director Judy Gearhart, JGearhart@sa-intl.org

Click here to view photos from the event

For more information contact SAI Program Manager Matt Fischer-Daly, MDaly@sa-intl.org

As reported in the August 2010 newsletter, on July 22 SAAS and SAI co-led a multi-stakeholder workshop in Guangzhou, China. Building on the momentum from this workshop, a subsequent calibration meeting on July 23 addressed the challenges of social auditing and the SA8000 audit process.

SA8000 calibration meetings for both field auditors and program managers are important tools for improving the quality and consistency of auditing. These meetings provide opportunities to go beyond learning just techniques, enabling auditors to get a fuller understanding of the auditing process based on their experiences in the field. The agenda for this meeting focused on key challenges specific to social auditing in China:  working hours, wages, social insurance, auditing integrity, data tracking and data collection for upcoming impact analysis. >>Read more

Salah Husseini is Social Accountability Accreditation Services' (SAAS) new Project Manager. One of his main focuses will be on the joint project between Hekhsher Tzedek and SAI.  As reported in the July 2010 newsletter, this project focuses on the creation of a new ethical certification standard that supplements kosher certification.  Salah earned a BA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a JD from American University in Washington, DC.  He is licensed to practice law in New York State. >> Read more

When I was in law school I focused on human rights and international law, and worked as a student attorney in the International Human Rights Law Clinic.  During this time I developed a strong interest in human and civil rights promotion.  I see my current work on the Magen Tzedek project as a natural extension of these interests. >>Read more

August 10-11- Global G.A.P. Consultation Workshop and Auditor Training SAI Advisory Board member Dorianne Beyer presented her Draft Interpretation for the U.S.A. of Global G.A.P.'s Risk-Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) in Atlanta, Georgia.  The final Interpretation issued August 24 will be used by all Global G.A.P. auditors assessing those U.S. farms who voluntarily agree to honor GRASP's requirements.  

September 6-8- Social Responsibility and the Public-Private Investment for the Construction of Peace SAI Program Director Judy Gearhart spoke at this conference, hosted by GTZ in Valledupar, Colombia. The key objective of this conference was to strengthen the multi-stakeholder capacity of those involved in sustainable development.

September 11- Bangladesh Workers' Rights Advocates Released The top two officials of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS) were released after being detained since August 12. SAI applauds the swift efforts of the ILRF, Human Rights Watch, and the US Congress for urging their immediate release. Click here to read SAI's joint letters to Bangladeshi officials

September 13- Solar Panels you can Install with a Clear Conscience SA8000 certified factory, Yingli, a Chinese solar-power panel manufacturer, is notably recognized in the Guardian for adopting a management system for protecting workers' rights, as required in  becoming certified.

September 14- ISO 26000 Guidance Standard Approved for Publication After five years of development, ISO26000 will give organizations guidance on implementing social responsibility. This standard is expected to be published on November 1, 2010. To see how ISO26000 compares with the SA8000 standard, click here

September 14-19- Right Livelihood Award 30th Anniversary Conference SAI President Alice Tepper Marlin, a 1990 RLA Laureate, participated in this conference in Bonn, Germany. Click here to see photos from the event

September 16- New York University Law- Conference on Labor Dispute Resolution SAI Program Director Judy Gearhart presented at this roundtable discussion. Agenda items included recent developments in foreign businesses and CSR, Chinese perspectives, and other global efforts.

September 21- Raising Billions to Address Globalization with Networks SAI President Alice Tepper Marlin was quoted in this Networking Action blog entry that focused on the Global Action Networks' work to address globalization. This blog is produced by Steve Waddell, click here to subscribe

September 23- Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Business Benefits SAI Corporate Programs & Training Director Craig Moss delivered this keynote speech at the Eco Petrol Annual Supplier Conference conference in Bogota, Colombia. Sponsored by EcoPetrol, participants included over 250 of Eco Petrol's suppliers from the manufacturing and service industries.